If we have correctly understood the press commentary regarding the situation created by our response, Lloyd George is prepared to separate immediate political agreement on peace from financial-economic agreements, which are to be referred to a long-term commission.

Written May 14, 1922.

Printed for the first time,
from a typescript copy

* See present volume, p. 185. Ed.

188

NOTE TO I. V. STALIN WITH A DRAFT RESOLUTION OF THE POLITBURO OF THE CC RCP(b) ON THE QUESTION OF THE MONOPOLY OF FOREIGN TRADE

Comrade Stalin! I propose, in view of this, to conduct a poll of Politburo members with the following directive: "The CC confirms the monopoly of foreign trade and resolves to cease everywhere the development and preparation of the question concerning the merger of the VSNKh with the NKVT. All People's Commissars are to sign this confidentially" and return the original to Stalin, without making copies.

15/V.
Lenin

Written May 15, 1922.
First printed in 1959
in Lenin Miscellany XXXVI

Printed from the manuscript

189